This paper deals with the effect of tocopherol on serum iron
content in experimental atherosclerosis (ATS). Having in mind the
importance of iron as a potent catalyst in some oxidative reactions, we
examined the iron content in serum of Chinchilla rabbits with ATS
induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet. Serum iron content was
quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. For this study six
groups of rabbits were used: C – control group fed the usual diet for this
species (n=10), O – control group fed an oil-containing diet (n=10), Ch
– experimental group fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (n=10), T –
experimental group received tocopherol intramuscularly (n=10), ChT –
experimental group treated with cholesterol and tocopherol (n=11),
and OT – experimental group which received oil and tocopherol
(n=11). After two-months of treatment decrease of iron content was
registrated in serum of T and OT group (p<0.05; p<0.01 respectively)
compared to both control groups. In comparison with Ch group serum
iron content was highly significantly (p<0.01) decreased in OT group
and significantly (p<0.05) decreased in T group. Our findings indicate
that tocopherol has an influence on serum iron content in rabbits
suffering from ATS induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet.